I wasn't sure what to expect when i first heard about Christina Aguilera making songs on her album like a 'Throwback of the 20's, 30's and 40's' I knew she was always evolving, but I really wasn't sure this was a good move.
Christina Maria Aguilera was born on December 18th, 1980, and her first album was a cheesy pop based album self titled, 'Christina Aguilera.' Hits that came from this album included 'Genie in a bottle, What a girl wants, I turn to you, and Come on over.'
Constantly changing the way she looked, Christina went from a long blonde haired, belly top wearer to a more provocative role when she appeared in the video 'Lady Marmalade' along with Pink, Mya, Lil Kim and Missy Elliott.
On from this, Christina pierced her nose and chin, got black extensions into her blonde locks, and made an album entitled 'Stripped' which hits such as 'Dirrty, beautiful, Fighter, can't hold us down and The voice within' were born. She also went from a blonde to having black hair and then back again.
The first song i heard from her new album 'Back to basics' was her hit, 'Ain't no other man' which is a more modern day feel song. This song refers to her newlywed husband,
Jordan Bratman, who quite a few songs on the album are dedicated to. I instantly liked the song when i heard it, and once i got used to it, I loved it. She sings to the best of her ability as usual, and brings a funky beat to the song (Something she rarely has in her newer songs.)
Her new single, yet to be released, is a slow balad entitled, 'Hurt.' It is a calming but powerful song, and she sings of hurting herself by hurting someone else, and how she's so sorry for it.
This album comes with two discs, the first disc includes 13 tracks, and is the more modern day feel side. The tracklisting is:
1. Back to basics (Intro)
2. Makes me wanna pray
3. Back in the day
4. Ain't no other man
5. Understand
6. Slow down baby
8. Oh Mother
9. On Our way
10. Without you
11. Still dirrty
12. Here to stay
13. Thank you ( A Dedication to fans)
From this Disc, my favourites would have to be Oh Mother, and undertstand. If you've heard Christina's last album 'stripped' or the song 'I'm ok,' You'll recognise this theme of the song. In it, shesings to her mother about the hardships of everything her father put them through, but leaves it with a positive feel in saying he'll never hurt us again. The music starts of with a piano alone. Some of the lyrics include:
She was so young with such innocent eyes She always dreamt of a fairytale life And all the things that your money can't buy She thought that he was a wonderful guy
Then suddenly things seemed to change It was the moment she took on his name His took his anger out on her face But she kept all of her pain locked away
In my opinion, this is a much better song than 'I'm ok' as it has more of a positive outlook, and also tells a better story.
The second disc of this double album includes only 9 songs. 1. Enter The Circus 2. Welcome 3. Candyman 4. Nasty Naughty Boy 5. I Got Trouble 6. Hurt 7. Mercy On Me 8. Save Me From Myself 9. The Right Man
I don't like this side of the disc as much as the first, as it lacks excitement throughout the beginning. However, tracks 6, 8 and 9 are some of my favourite songs from both sides. Save me from myself is about how her husband Jordan Bratman saves her from herself, and saves her from going crazy. It is a beautiful ballad that concentrates on Christina's voice morethan anything, and does not include too much music in the background.
The right man tells of how her father didn't turn up for her wedding. "So many years have gone by, always strong, tried not to cry. Never felt like i needed any man to comfort me in life. But i'm all made up today, a veil upon my face, But no father stands beside me, to give this bride away."
She is so upset, and she tells of how she never knew a right man existed until her now turned husband came along. She ends the song with the lyrics, 'And one day my little girl will reach out her hand. She'll know I found the right man.' She implies that she knows her husband will be a great father one day to their children, and that she will never have to put them through what she went through.
This album is definately a turn around from her last album, as it is much more positive for a start. She sings of her love for her husband, and how she is content and happy. Her voice is continious and as amazing as always. I think you can always count on Christina to deliver a song perfectly. She uses lots of different vocal ranges, and includes a wide variety of songs.
In my opinion, I do think her last album 'Stripped' had a lot more good songs on than this one, but this is still Great. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering buying it, and who is a Christina Aguilera fan. However, if you were to ask which album out of all of them I would recommend most, I would say Stripped but by all means, this does not make this album a bad one. I always said from the beginning she would never top stripped, and I was right. That was too good of an album to beat in my opinion.
The album art that goes along with the album also features some beautiful photos. I love the way Christina uses diversity on a regular basis, and is constantly evolving. This album portrays that.
Pictures of Back to Basics - Christina Aguilera
back to basics promo 1
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Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera's first disc in four years, refines and clarifies ... more
the--let's call it "sexy"--aura surrounding this platinum firebrand. Here, the best belter in a class that counts Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears on its roll call h...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera's first disc in four years, refines and clarifies ... more
the--let's call it "sexy"--aura surrounding this platinum firebrand. Here, the best belter in a class that counts Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears on its roll call h...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Disc 1: Modern Intro (Back To Basics) Makes Me Wanna Pray Back In The Day Ain't No ... more
Other Man Understand Slow Down Baby Oh Mother F.U.S.S. On Our Way Without You Still Dirrty Here To Stay Thank You (Dedication To Fans...) Disc 2: Old School...
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Oct 9th, 2006
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